Chapter 96

With her limp body hoisted over his shoulder this immediate session of training ends for Ayeka. Vegeta carries her out of the training room and straight into Washu's lair. One Instant Transmission later and he is beside Washu. She looks across at him and without a word points with red tipped fingers to Yamcha where he leads them off to the medical tanks. Vegeta sums up the risks of his activity and then removes the boots, wrist-guards and protective waist-coat of Ayeka's combat gear as he attaches the rebreather to her face and lowers her body into the blue liquid. Yamcha goes to make small talk by asking how the training is coming along and Vegeta only acknowledges it by giving the back handed compliment that even Yamcha and Gohan train with more earnest than she does. Yamcha decides that conversation is not the best path and leaves to go help Washu with whatever errands she needs.

It should only take several minutes for the thrashing her body has received to be undone. For now she has not quit on him and that is one of the few positives he can state of her performance. Vegeta holds the highest of standards. After this he is going to have to give her the reprieve of food. It began as an incentive to get her to work hard and now as a punishment he will have to end it so she can continue and has energy to move her body and replenish her ki. Detailed logs of her anatomy appear on the displays. They are far more thorough than the printout he got earlier. They are also more invasive and private so for his own peace of mind he leaves them unread. Sensing about in this realm reveals a good chunk of his household are within here. This suits him fine.

Kaia and Ryoko are in a room close to Washu. The operation has most probably only recently ended. Gohan and Kiyone and Mihoshi are off somewhere in here, working no doubt. Yamcha is back with Washu and that completes the lot with himself and Ayeka here.

A video screen appears. Washu's exasperated face appears on it as she removes blood tinged gloves from her hands. He can sense Kaia's perpetually weak ki so he has no need to ask if she survived the procedure, any other details he feels Ryoko shall be prompt in informing him.

"I've tracked down where Utsutsumi went to. He did a dozen or so random jumps to hide his trail but we've got him now and it-"

"Who is this Utsutsumi?" Vegeta looks blankly at the genius. That name means nothing to him.

"The grandfather of the princess you've been beating up. Lady Seto's husband, her accomplice. It is very bad news. His ship was floating about in the debris field that used to be our planet." With a disinterested harrumph she explains who Utsutsumi is and reveals the major news of his location. Anger enters both of their eyes at this trespass into their home territory.

"Any Saiyan she resurrects will be weak and worthless. I doubt she would waste her time on gifting me more subordinates. What Tuffles existed that she might see as useful to be alive?" Calculating his opponent's next dozen moves is a skill Vegeta has honed for killing, even so Seto's seemingly random and ill-thought out moves are leaving him with little indication of her true intent. He sees no reason a hater of Saiyans would revive one of his extinct race. That leave one option: Tuffles.

"Do you want me to list all those I know from my own 20,000 year personal history? It's a big list she knows that I cannot whittle down fast enough. … Vegeta, for all I know, for all I trust that idiot schemer, she could have brought my son back. If she has … you can treat her the same as you've been Ayeka." Washu seethes out the potential she abhors. If Seto dares to utilise her own flesh and blood against her there shall be no mercy. Anything is on the table regarding Seto.

"You are too powerful an ally for her to render useless. Unless she is allied with Kagato-"

"Unless she is a third party unto herself, which she might as well be. She is meeting up with her husband's ship. Once they dock then I am overriding their controls. We'll have visitors in over a day's time. We can take turns interrogating her if you want, depending on who she's brought back, if she has brought someone back."

"You bring her here then you know who will follow. That is a lot of guests to distract me from winning my tournament." Vegeta knows that the rest of Jurai shall follow for their form of justice to be enacted and to retrieve their rogue element and spymaster. With this Kaia can return although he is unsure if Ryoko is mentally ready for a farewell. If but he could sense that ship the questions would all be over.

"Kagato must be really annoyed that you don't even register him in your training but these pseudo family members you do. Seto might want this. She will be hostile to you. Please speak to her about how you did not kill her parents. I don't care what peace treaty they want of you. Get her placated so I can do my job."

"That is sounding dangerously like an order you gave me." He growls out at the authoritative tone she is taking towards this prince.

"That is because it is." Washu firmly states. She is not backing down to his pride here.

He darkly chuckles at her defiance of him and leaves her to continue her work until he can be of use, closing down the comm link and awaiting Ayeka's healing to complete. His tail wafts listlessly through the air. The main body of himself meditates as a Super Saiyan 3 and this offshoot lessens its power further below Ayeka's. One person notices his power shift and the female multi-form of Ryoko appears in the air stupidly smiling at him. She begins spouting out how Kaia is all healthy and that the operation was a resounding success and her hearing is not going to deteriorate. Vegeta is not that interested. Ryoko taps impatiently on the healing tank for Kaia does want to see her friend and she believes likewise Ayeka will hold a want to see Kaia. The Saiyan then asks how she is faring. Ryoko pauses.

"... Think I'm slowly learning what grief is here. Didn't think I'd ever miss that cunt. Now I'm responsible for his death - so guess I'm the cunt. I got that bastard killed. I was the one who wanted us to work that area." Ryoko sighs out, deflating as she speaks about the Juraian who sacrificed it all so she could live.

"Take your time to deal with it-"

"I don't like it." She growls out. She has seen what grief does to Vegeta and she wants no part of it, especially not for some long dead fool she has hated for longer than Vegeta has been alive.

"I'm not particularly fond of grieving either. Welcome to what the weaklings call the adult world, one filled with these confusing and weakening emotions."

"You dick. But, thanks. Means a lot this, besides proving me to be an idiot again. It's an easy way for you to calm me down I'll give ya that. So how many more heals does Ayeka have to go through before?"

"She wanted Vegeta's special training. You know when I end my training. If you are up for it, then I shall show you my side."

" … Kai-Kai time when Ayeka's done."

The rogue vanishes and Vegeta ticks down the minutes until Ayeka is fully restored. There is a main issue with the training and devising a way to overcome it is proving irksome. She has asked and wants for the training yet she lacks the main prerequisite of holding motivation towards training. Ayeka does not yearn for power or strength. His options come down to the basics of carrot or stick. Keeping food from her could be argued to be both, either rewarding her with food for a good job or punishing her by taking away a basic bodily need due to her failures.

Beeping sounds from the tank and Vegeta hits a button with his tail to flush the tank and release Ayeka. The captive maiden within splutters, removes the rebreather and opens her eyes looking about. A Saiyan stares back impatiently at her through curved glass. She understands where she is and what must have happened, feeling the strong effects on her now healed body, and hovers upwards to freedom. The wounds are gone, Ayeka can move without pain and the relief she feels is bliss. Her pink outfit is wet and clings. Looking to dry herself she now sees that a good portion of protection from her outfit has been removed. She pauses.

Vegeta explains to her that healing is faster when the gel is in greater contact with her skin. He points to the side to her gauntlets, boots and vest. Ayeka is still paused. He has partially undressed her whilst unconscious.

"To take such liberties … This will not do. How dare-"

"Good. Some fire and anger might make you hit properly for once. Go see Kaia, she wants to see you. I shall cook food for even I am not cruel enough to make you cook and eat your own creations." Two fingers point in the direction Ryoko is and another two raise to his head and Vegeta removes himself from that situation.

Her righteous anger is still there whether he has vanished or not. Ayeka grumbles to herself as she dresses. Her purple hair and clothes are sodden. She knows all the other ki users somehow dry themselves. Attempting the same does not yield the results she wants. That would be a useful skill to learn in this training. Unfortunately to train like Vegeta means that nothing gets taught to you as he has never had a master or teacher in training and learnt everything on his own. Ayeka takes to the skies and hopes flying might dry her quicker.

Soft and mellow humming is heard. Continuing to dry as she flies finds Ayeka only mildly damp as she approaches her long time friend. Sitting on a comfortable bed is her red headed and freckled friend. In between her legs her rival seats herself. There is a tender smile on Kaia's pale face as she pampers Ryoko and listens to her soft music and the rogue enjoys the gentle affection. No scars or signs of an operation mar the delicate skin of the blind lady. Washu has succeeded and her recovery should be short. Ayeka lands and her footsteps inform Kaia that she has more company.

"Please keep volumes to a minimum for the next hour, my ears are almost as sensitive as Ryoko's currently." Kaia whispers to the approaching guest she is guessing to be the princess from her gait.

Ryoko waves at Ayeka and stops her humming whilst the coddling of Kaia continues. Hands that have already memorised her texture comb through the rough strands of cyan hair. The pirate is being spoilt, both have comfort in the presence of the other.

"It is good to see that all is well." Ayeka gives a polite greeting with a smile. Gloveless hands can not see the smile.

"You were absent for breakfast. It might not be my place to give council to the prestigious high princess of Jurai, but you are a fool." Her advice was disregarded and her friend chose the idiotic path of training with Vegeta. She worries for her and was witness to hearing some of the training she subjected herself to. Kaia moves her hands dangerously and teasingly close to Ryoko's elfin ears. "I can sense the emotions of Vegeta most of the time, no sane individual should want for a replication of that. Though, this poor soul here seems afflicted by a similar strain of stupidity as yourself and wants for that."

"Nasty Kai-Kai has quite the sharp tongue. What I'm wanting for after your ever so romantic date with my Vegey is to reminisce about the good old times when I was the retard going to him for a beating." Ryoko purrs. She nuzzles in against Kaia's neck and cheek, playfully biting at her blindfold. "And Kaia … if things what's in there is all bad then I'm gonna need a lot more cuddles. Maybe some naked and frisky cuddles, especially with a girl like you who knows how to use her hands."

" … I would r-r-rather things take at a slower pace. Such activities, I am not ready for. Maybe if instead-"

"Sure, Kai-Kai, whatever you say. You're insisting so tomorrow me and you can have a nice date. Though with you borrowing my clothes 'n all, do you want my lucky underwear or shall I?" The rogue enjoys the reactions of her benefited friend and the glare of disgust from the princess at her shameless flirtation.

Kaia gives a soft tug to the lobe of Ryoko's ears with a blush on her cheeks. She nods, making sure she does not seem too eager, and wishes Ryoko the best in her endeavour in seeking the truth. The pirate turns to Ayeka and immediately questions her on what the proper thing is to do for a Juraian funeral. She would perceive this as a half threat against herself if not for the seriousness on her rival's face. Ayeka looks quizzical and then Ryoko sighs and explains. Her first lover is dead and Ryoko wishes to honour his passing and remember him in a way she knows no-one did all those years ago when he was buried. Kaia makes a soothing shushing sound and faces Ayeka. She is here for emotional support and Kaia shall give plenty. Ayeka then explains the procedures she knows of that only those of highest birth should ever get granted in their passing. Ryoko deciphers her own pauper's variant and thanks Ayeka, then adding in a hasty apology for her rash judgement of her as a Juraian. At this her foe is moved. Ayeka graciously accepts this apology and wishes her the best in her outing with Kaia, giving a few prompts in things to Kaia's liking.

The princess then looks to her side and sees on a nearby cabinet the unused upgraded gloves of Kaia. Feline eyes also look at the discarded apparel and nods at Ayeka. She picks them up and the attentive ears of the blind woman listen.

"I apologise that I am on a tight time schedule, however instead of wasting time playing with Ryoko I believe it would be more appropriate if you contacted your family to ease their worries over the operation." Ayeka whispers. "And a video call with them will be the perfect chance for you to test out whether whatever Ryoko has tried has aided in your ability to utilise Washu's kind upgrade to your gloves."

The gloves are placed on Ryoko's lap who in turn puts them behind her in Kaia's hands. She does not make any movement to wear them.

"... To 'see' my parents would be a wonder that I am hard pressed to find an excuse to deny. I hold unease over this proposition."

"You wanted first thing ya see to be someone you love, I guess your folks can fit that bill just fine. We'll be with you, pretending to help."

Fear of failure and of losing this potential gift of interpreted sight is stalling her hand. Kaia is tempted by the gloves. Life the past few days without them is making her long for her ability to sense her environment and reason tells her there is little point in her being given this gift if she never dares to use it. She leans forward against Ryoko and her fingers close over her gloves. Kaia wants for this. An end to sightlessness.

With some persuasion Kaia is led towards a console. She sits with Ayeka and Ryoko reassuring her. Kaia holds onto the gloves in her hands as she listens to Ayeka dialling in the number for the call to begin. As it begins to ring Ayeka takes a few steps to the side so that her royal presence is not noticed nor will it interfere with the call. Following a few seconds of ringing the call is answered by one of Kaia's mothers. There is no video to the call as her parents knowing it is Kaia have never used that option when answering her. The volume of the call is low and Kaia quietly explains how the operation went and that she cannot bear loud noise at the time but that it should pass swiftly. Hesitantly she then asks for her mother to gather the rest of her parents. When asked why Kaia falls silent with Ryoko prodding her to continue.

"Mother … I am scared of this request, however it is too wondrous a chance for me to not steel my resolve and try. Dr Washu has moved me with her compassionate acts aiding myself and has gone above and beyond any duty required of her. She- she has upgraded my gloves. - I – They. My gloves should be able to differentiate brightness now. I wish to see you."

Silence comes from the line. A loud clatter of frantic movement then follows as does far off urgent and semi-panicked shouting. Her mother then stammers that she shall get them quickly with abject glee in her voice. Kaia nervously waits and listens. She nudges her head to the side to find Ryoko and goes to find her forehead with her own and rest against it for comfort. The big moment is looming and coming close. Several impatient minutes pass for Kaia. Her father should be at work at this time, as would her other mother and it is only by chance someone was in their family home before leaving to pick up.

Three voices then answer her and announce their presence. Kaia gives an apprehensive greeting to her father and two mothers. Her hands reach out to the console and Ryoko guides it to the correct button with Ayeka watching with baited breath. The screen switches on. Three adult Juraians gathered around their console see Kaia nervously sat there with her gloves held in her hands and a stranger stood next to her. Ryoko waves and speaks and at her voice they recognise her for Kaia has allowed her presence in calls to her family over the past few days. Kaia removes her forehead from Ryoko and with a resolute expression puts her gloves on and activates them.

The large square device before her previously would have given her gloves issue due to its holographic nature, now her photosensitive gloves can pick out its shape. Resolution and sharpness of the geometry is beyond what Kaia is used to and can physically sense at the moment with her delicate hands. Shape she has always been able to decipher. A monitor, a keyboard and a lab in the background. So far it is all normal. The pressure from the gloves highlights nothing out of the ordinary beyond the advanced detail it provides. Kaia frowns in concentration. Beyond this is a new sensation. Heat exists in her palms and fingers matching to places in the mental image she has to conjure from the sensations.

Ryoko leans in and explains how the gloves work to the best of their knowledge and their attempts at helping Kaia with this. She goes on to say that Kaia is trying her hardest now to piece together this new information and understand the foreign concept of brightness in her new monochrome world. Her parents nod and shall wait as long as necessary for their disabled daughter to master this ability.

With her gloves not using acoustics she can make out the outlines and details of her parents' faces on the screen in a weird manner she does not like due to its lack of depth for it being a 2-D image. She can make out the shape of her parents. She knows this and knows how they look in this regards. Focusing as best as she can on the miniscule temperature variants in her hand she begins to compare and contrast different parts of her parents. In her mind she cannot give white and black any meaning. Brightness does not exist for her. Visualising it in the only similar way she can is in comparison to her ki sensing. Hot means bright and cold means dark she repeats to herself in her head. This is taking a lot of brain power to process. Breaking down the image she focuses on the single area she has failed to learn of their faces.

"... Father's – fath – dad. Dad your eyes aren't as dark as mums'." Emotions are unleashed by all as Kaia's quiet voice describes this new sight.

Dark eyes and dark hair wander about the kitchen as food cooks. He scratches at a stubble growing on his chin through his past few days of exiled training. His main self far off trains with his son and here his dating self is waiting for food to feed his princess. The mystery of Seto's wishes is on his mind. With Kagato being a Tuffle it is not just Washu's relatives who are on the list of revived suspects. Such a hostage situation his sadism finds comical. Ryo-Ohki nips at his heels. The cabbit gets the carrots it seeks. Right now this multi-form will not go against a cabbit holding 10 times his strength when as a spaceship. At half her strength he should get more effort from Ayeka and it might give him some challenge, though he might have to reduce his strength further and shame her more with that.

His aim of doubling Ayeka's power is a long way from being achievable with her current progress. At best she can learn a few new things and increase her power by 50%. His training is not a joke to be dabbled in when she chooses. For any rewards substantial work has to be put in, not days but years. Her life has no need for his training. He can harden her through this, educate her on her weaknesses and perhaps get her to become more independent in her thoughts and actions. As Ryoko rightly stated she trained of her own accord and by herself unlike Ayeka. Her fighting style is full of hesitation, overthinking and she stays defensive unless provoked. He knows her goal in this. To understand him will take more than a bit of empathy from doing exercise, his mindset is far beyond the psychology of a Juraian.

Goku is sat cross legged thinking. It is an unusual past time for him but this multi-form has a lot to think of. A compromise has been found for Chichi. She refused seeing Washu in a continuation of being stubborn and so now she exits from the healing tank that came bundled with the training room after squabbling over how it works. One other variant of him is exploring New Namek with his son and the other trains. So far him and Gohan have quite the mystery on their hands. Straight after exiting the healing pod Chichi turns and looks at her reflection on the tank. She messes with her hair and pouts.

He asks how she is and Chichi grumbles to herself that her hair is still dyed and blonde. There is some black in her roots but a healing chamber does not see dye as damage to heal. He asks her again as to how she is feeling. She thinks for a bit and decides that she is feeling a bit better after that but she is still sore and delicate. Goku thinks. Even on death's door that healing tank can bring you back to normal with no issue. The thing wrong with Chichi is not something that can be healed, so he thinks. On that note Chichi smugly proclaims she has to be right that there is nothing wrong with her if there is nothing to heal. Goku is still of a different mind since he can sense the tempest of her growing ki.

Compared to napping this healing chamber has massively revitalised her. For the first time in a good couple of days she feels awake and with some energy. Chichi looks over to her husband and asks him to dry her with his ki. She has more than enough power to do so, and is more than obstinate enough to never learn ki based abilities. He does as requested as he ponders and she busies tying her offensive blonde hair out of sight. Chichi inquisitively asks what he is thinking about and if she can help. The basic situation is relayed to her about Seto's actions and what Goku and Gohan's investigation has found so far.

"Well if I was her the first thing I would ask the dragon is to tell me about this 'Counteractor' thing. If some weird Kai starts calling my child weird names and a destroyer I'd want answers." Chichi makes a lot of sense with this maternal argument. Goku commends her on the brilliance of that idea which pleases her. "Though the second wish for that woman would have to be for getting her grandchild away from Vegeta, I mean that's just the only safe choice unless you're crazy. Third, I dunno but if she has an empire to run there must be lots of things they need."

Conferring with Gohan proves that second point to not be valid as Ayeka and Vegeta have had no separation. Chichi impatiently grabs his hand and starts pulling for him to go for a walk in the woods with him. Energised, her want for constant attention cannot be so easily avoided as it is when she sleeps. The multi-form of Goku is helplessly dragged along. 2 miles later Chichi reveals her intentions. They stop and she begins undressing. For the first time since she has been made younger she is feeling up for some action. Her want for attention desires the highest form of affection she can get from her husband. Lust and love drive her actions. In this her husband cannot be away from her and his eyes shall be solely on her.

Training continues in a relentless fashion for Ayeka. Ki attacks barrage her shield. Physical blows batter her body. Enormous weights crush down on her. Impossible feats are expected of her. Even his flexibility exceeds hers. Throughout it all this multi-form of Vegeta worth half her strength shows no sign of faltering. Minutes while away into eternity with no relief for her.

"Oh Tsunami, I cannot believe I have committed such an archaic evil. Please, forgive me for this grievance. I beg of you that it was not of my intent and- oh no, is this a crime? With you being a police office and insulting you in such a way have I committed a crime?" Kaia penitently pleads.

"No, no, it's fine. It's all OK. I don't mind, it was just an accident." An awkward Mihoshi waves away Kaia's fears and dismisses any ill will.

Sniggering comes from a floating Ryoko at this humorous faux pas. The people of Jurai are fairly homogeneous with no major differences in appearance. Kaia is recent to the world of monochrome. In her excitement going place to place and face to face she 'sees' things for the first time. A lot of concentration is required from her to work this perception, it is not natural to her yet and slight temperature variations she is not currently sensitive to. Looking about at people she has stumbled upon an oddity. She, without thought, commented on this. However, her words were ill chosen. Under most circumstances they would be construed as bigotry. Kaia being blind has never been one to notice before differences in people like this. She pointed out Mihoshi's dark skin. She commented on the strangeness of it. Mihoshi has a very awkward smile on her face as she deals with this predicament.

Kaia apologises profusely again and again for this mistake. She adds in many compliments for her light hair and lovely eyes to make up for this slight against Mihoshi's skin colour. Mihoshi tries to laugh it off as unimportant. There was no malice in Kaia's insult, only innocent naivety. Ryoko multi-forms and gives a gentle push to the two and tells them to hug and make up. The pirate in her head notes for future reference that both Ayeka and Kaia now have made racist remarks to another at some point. The blind woman is sheepish now and careful in her excitement in viewing objects. That then goes out the window as windows themselves become a functioning object to her and not a wall. Transparency exists for her gloves to view, printed images and screens are viewable, writing instead of Braille she can see.

With writing in front of her Kaia comes to a halt and makes a puzzled sound. She knows how to read Braille. Written text she is not the most fluent in. With this she has to concentrate purposefully and hard to make out the darkness of ink and the detail of its shape to read each single letter. Her written language skills are falling through. Translation glasses appear as an answer and then the fact of them being glasses rears its head. Wearing them on her eyeless face will not help her. For Kaia to use them she has to hold the glasses in one hand with an open palm behind the lens to struggle reading the display. Ryoko is giddy in teasing Kaia in this celebration of light now existing for her in some variation.

Late at night when all but a few have retired to the land of slumber a metal door creaks open and a Saiyan exits. In his arms is the unconscious body of Ayeka. There is no healing chamber destined for her now. The full repercussions of her actions can be felt as she sleeps off her exhaustion and injuries for Vegeta himself does not regularly end his training with a reliance on health care. Though his house should be in darkness the lights in the front room are on and a woman eagerly watches him. He walks on past, goes up the stairs and lies Ayeka upon her bed. Vegeta's multi-form rejoins, he intends to sleep and all of himself shall sleep not just a fragment.

Downstairs Ryoko awaits. Vegeta appears at the top of the stairs and motions with his head for her to head into his training room. She is not too eager to comply seeing the state of the last woman foolish enough to do so. With telepathy he speaks into her head that the sound proofing of the training room is a wise investment for what she wants from him. With a lazy nod she teleports into the training room. Her feline eyes glance about at spots of Juraian blood on the floor. When Vegeta attacked her she spilt far more. He has been going easy on her.

"This Seto woman is being escorted to Earth by Washu, and with it Jurai shall likely follow. Your mistress is likely to leave at that time." Vegeta relays information pertinent to Ryoko before they begin. Kaia is not a permanent addition to their household, at some point he would like to train without fearing for her life.

"No! Can't we keep her?"

"She's not some stray to take in like a mutt or police officers. Unlike yourself she has a career. A life to return to. Now you might have some enthusiasm about going to the tournament."

"Bah! Well I got a date with her tomorrow so as long as I make it memorable-"

"Oh? I thought you were pressing for time with yours truly and not the blind woman."

"Says the guy already going on dates with a Juraian. We're just fooling around the same here, distracting ourselves from the main attraction. So, what's her ring look like then? She went on for days about this damn date. I mean I'm all for being carted up and then to fall spent and exhausted on a bed after receiving a pounding from ya, what ring did she give you?" In a predatory fashion she circles about Vegeta to learn of what the other fiancée gave to him.

"Ayeka failed on that regard. Credit to her she got too wrapped up in the training for that distraction to rear its head, and now she is no state to gift me anything." The Saiyan shrugs, he expected it however a ring for himself never came.

A greedy grin splits Ryoko's face. Even if it is a mere delay this is pleasant news to her. Twirling about in the air she lands before him. Sensing all of his energy and power is reassuring for her. Golden eyes are fixated on him. Her false tail curls about her and dances about the Saiyan's own wrapped firmly about his waist before she hooks onto it. With a serious tone he asks her whether she is ready for this, the culmination of these sessions. Ryoko nods. Without further ado she reaches out and rests a palm on his forehead and the deluge begins.

Alone, hungry, thirsty and the only illumination is starlight. Pain throbs from the bleeding stump that was a tail. Dizzying thoughts swirl around his head and vie for control. Meditation brings him little peace but passes the time. Then, a ki signature appears and a female voice calls out to him. Blue and yellow fabric tears, blood flows, ashes of an arm drift on the wind and the event ends within a couple of minutes. His nose is full of her burnt scent, his mouth savouring her blood and he knows precisely where the ki is to follow. A scratch to his lost tail is all he gives before sitting down and meditating again.

Every last emotion and thought he held in his head at that distressing time is relayed from predator to its prey. In silence she consumes the lust, the rage, the hatred, the guilt and the despair. From the eyes of another she watches her own breaking. Unbridled power at her fingertips aching to be unleashed to test this female courting him, sadism driving his words as he takes the only pleasure he allows himself to and the pent up arousal at her raging as his primal mind yearns for procreation. There is no Ayeka in his mind. She hears her pitiful screams displeasing his Saiyan mating preferences and not her infertility towards him. So much danger and anger is held back behind the dam of his control and she was witness to the few drops that spilt over the top whilst he fought down his Super Saiyan variants. Betrayal, grief and shame taste as bitter as her blood on his tongue as she teleports from him.

Ryoko removes her palm drenched in cold sweat from Vegeta. That is his side of the story played back to her from eyes with worse night vision than her own, heightened smell and an infuriating slowness to everything due to his speed. She heavily sits down on the tiles. Devoid of focus her eyes stare blankly forward. Her golden eyes close and she lowers her head as she internalises this alternate perspective. Warmth washes over her. Energy from a Super Saiyan laps over her flesh he violated. This is his light and that was his dark. Vegeta sits down in front of her.

"Now you know. … And now I think would be right for me to give you that night without sleep I promised you a while back." His calm voice sounds out to her elfin ears.